Lead connector for electronic discharge devices



C. V. LHTTON Nov. 2, 1948.

LEAD CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRONIC DISCHARGE DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1943 INVENTOR. CH/l/PZES K A/77'0/V Nov. 2, 1948. c. v. LlTTON 2,452,532

LEAD CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRONIC DISCHARGE DEVICES Filed Dec. 22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I'll, A l! Patented Nov. 2, 194% 2 42 582 UNE'iED STATES @i 'lFlQE LEAD (CONNECTGR FUR ELECTRONIC BXSQIHARGE DEVICES Charles V. Litton, Redwood City, Galiii, assignor to Federal Telephone and Radio Corporation, New York, N. 1., a corporation of Delaware Application December 22, 1943, Serial No. 515,268 17 Claims. (Cl. 25( 27.5)

This invention relates to improvements in lead the problem of joining an external lead to an inconnectors for electronic discharge devices and 'Ierhal lead, a Still maintain a p p air-tight more particularly to a lead-in connector for use e l. h l n n of pr m y mp The in conjunction with vacuum tubes, and the like. p r r device r ing t th p e v n- An object of this invention is to provide a new, 0 s n t f r o a generally cupp intermediate connector adapted to simultaneously mem r. n m s e r y n F 1 an 2, wh h mechanically join a support r th member on serves to interconnect an internal lead member one side of a device, with a lead or similar memwith an external lead member Hi. The cupher on the other side of the device, without Inakmem er i is p f r bly p v d d with a ing any opening through the wall of the device. first cup-shaped extension it having, if desired,

Another object of this invention is to rovide one or m re n r l protuherances 8 and a f ra ntermediate connector adapted to form part ther cup-shaped extension of smaller diameter of or be joined to the walls of a closed device, hav ng a central reentrant portion 22. which mechanically joins a support or oth r m Ehe internal lead member l2 may be in the form her on one side of the device to a lead or similar of a relatively wide support provided at one end member on the other sid of the device with opening 2 of substantially the same More specifically, it is an object of the present diameter as the outer diameter of the second cupinvention to form a connector which may be sealed ap d member and With Smaller Openings to the walls of a vacuum tube, and which simuld p e t rec ive pr b r n f r ntaneously mechanically and electrically interinc p p s As illustrated. the l member I2 connects a support within the tube to an external y v ben v r e e 231i additional St lead. is desired.

These and other features of the invention will The ex ern l lead m m er 4, as shown in Fig. be best understood and appreciated from the iolm y consist of a nail-like device having a shank lowing description of a preferred embodiment on one end of which is integrally formed or thereof, described for purposes of illustration, attached a head 32. and shown in the accompanying drawings, in The manner in which such a device when aswhich: sembled, is utilized in a vacuum tube structure, is

Fig. l is a front elevation of an intermediate shown best in Fig. 6. The lip of the cup-shaped connecting device, formed in accordance with the 0 mem l5 y 00 8 a knife-edge Sea1- present invention; ing with a glass envelope 3 3, the lead member Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken 2 extending upwardly within the tube (or in any along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; other desired direction), preferably for connec- Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the members tion With and/ or as a Supp for a electrode 0 to be connected; 35 similar element within the tube. The lead I4 Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken projects radially outwardly from one side of the along the line 0 tube and, obviously, is suitable for connection to Fig. 5 is a plan view of another member to be or with any external device. connected through the device of the present The manner in which the elements l9, l2 and invention; i l, forming the complete connection, are joined Fig. 6 is a front elevation, partially in section, together is more clearly illustrated in enlarged illustrating the application of the instant invenviews, Figs. '7, 8 and 9. In Fig. 7, there is shown tion as a lead-in connecting device for vacuum simply the first assembly step, which may be tubes; placng of the lead member i2 on one side of the Fig. '7 is an enlarged. partial cross-sectional view cup-shaped member 59, with the cup-shaped exillustrating a step in the method of forming the tension 2!? of the latter projecting through the connection according to the present invention; opening 2 3 in the former, and the protuberances Fig. 8 is a similar cross-sectional view illusit extending into the openings 25 for positioning trating a succeeding step in the method; and purposes.

Fig. 9 is a similar cross-sectional view illus- The nail-shaped lead Hi may then be mounted trating a further step in the method. upon a base die 38 having an opening to receive In the form of connector illustrated by way of the shank 39 and provided with a spacing ring 40 example in the drawings, 1' have illustrated a to raise the nail head from the top of this base. specific form of such connector primarily adapted A small amount of brazing material, in the form,

for use with. vacuum tubes and like devices, where for example, of a disk 52 may be placed on the top of the nail head 32 and the cup-shaped memher i@ inserted into the lead member i2 is then placed on top of the base 38 with the nail head 22 within the cup-shaped extension 2%.

A movable die t i containing a suitable forming opening 45 is then pressed against the top of the cup shaped extension 2E3 squeezing the excess metal in this cup-shaped extension outwardly and downwardly over the surface of the lead member 12, squeezing the latter, in turn, against the bottom of the cup-shaped extension 15 lying on the base die 35. Since, however, the'outward movement of the metal in the cup-shaped member 20 is limited by the walls of the opening id in the movable die 46 some of the excess metal will be pressed downwardly alongside and against the periphery of the nail head 32 with additional metal being squeezed beneath the under surface of the head 32, betweenit and the top of the base die 38. Thus, the nail head 32 is held between the bottom of the now compressed cup-shaped member 29 and the bead b which is formed on the underside of the nail head. It was for this reason that the underside of the nail head was spaced from the top of the base die 35 by the ring 40.

When the connection is removed from the die it will thus be seen that the lead member i2 is clamped between the outwardly distorted portion 52 of the cup-shaped member 25 and the bottom of the cup-shaped member 56, while the nail head 32 of the lead 3i; is also joined in this combination, as a unit, being held between the bead on the one side and the inner surface of the distorted cup-shaped member 25 on the other side. The connection may be later heated at suitable temperature to braze the top of the nail head 32 to the inside of the cup-shaped member 253 by fusing of the brazing material 2.

, It will be seen that the device described is adniirably suited for forming a connection through the glass envelope of a vacuum tube, but ohviously has application to the formation of a connection through any wall or partition, where it'is desired to make a through, leak-proof connection. While the use of a deformable cupshaped portion extending through one of the devices to be connected forms an essential feature ofthe instant. invention, the remaining portion of the intermediate connector device can have any desired form, depending upon the manner in which it is to be used. In the broader sense, the remaining portion of this intermediate member may form the walls of a dividing partition itself.

While the protruding cup-shaped portion of the intermediate member has been shown with reentrant design, this formation is not necessary, but only provides an excess of material which permits the formation of the outwardly radially extending fiangeand the inwardly extending lead when the device is compressed. Any structure which provides the necessary excess material which Will be sumcient to form the two joints upon the application of pressure will be suitable for the purpose in mind.

Accordingly, while I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with one specific application, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only byway of example and not as a limitation on the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects and the'accompanying claims.

I claim:

'1. Inan electronic discharge device, an envelope, an internal lead member positioned Within said envelope, said lead member having a plane surface portion provided with a generally circular opening therethrough, an external lead member having a disc-shaped portion, a metal cup whose closed bottom is provided with an extension protruding through and beyond the opening in said internal lead member and on its inner said external leadmember so as to attach said lead members to said metal cup, and means sealing the lip of said metal cup to an opening in said envelope.

2. The combination according to claim 1, in combination with further means rigidly connecting the inside of the closed bottom to the adjacent side of said disc-shaped portion.

3. The combination according to claim 1, in which said extension is cup-shaped and the bottom of said cup-shaped extension is formed with one or more protuberances positioned radially outwardly from said cup-shaped extension, and openings in said internal lead member receiving said protuberances.

4. In an electronic discharge device, an envelope, a metal cup sealed over an opening of said envelope, said metal cup encircled by a first lead member and surrounding a second lead member, the closed botom portion of said metal cup overlapping said first lead member, and a part of the bottom portion of said cup overlapping said second lead member to attach said first lead member to the outside of said metal cup and said second lead member to the inside oi said metal cup.

.5. In an electronic discharge device, an envelope, a metal cup sealed over an opening of said envelope, the outside of said metal cup being turned towards the inside of said envelope, said metal cup being encircled by an internal lead member and surrounding an external lead memher, the closed bottom portion of said metal cup overlapping said internal lead member and a part of the bottom portion of said metal cup overlapping said external lead member to attach said internal lead member to the outside of said metal cup and said external member to the inside of said metal cup.

6. A device according to claim 5, in which said internal lead member comprises a fiat portion having an opening fitting over said metal cup.

'7. A device according to claim 5, in which said externallead member comprises a disc fitting into the inside of said metal cup and a wire attached to the center of the disc.

8. A device according to claim 5, in which said external lead member comp-rises a disc fitting in- .to the inside of said metal cup and a wire attached to the center of the disc and a soldered layer arranged between said disc the closed topof the metal cup.

9. A device according to claim 12, wherein said metal cup consists of a half-closed top cylinder extending through a perpendicular wall into an open bottom cylinder of larger diameter, and wherein said first lead member consists of a lead plate having an opening fitting over the outside of said top cylinder, and said second lead member consists of a disc-shaped plate fitting into the inside of said top cylinder, a wall portion of said top cylinder, extending above said first lead plate, being folded together to overlap radially a portion of said first lead plate, and another wall portion of said top cylinder, extending below said first lead plate, being folded together to overlap radially said second lead plate.

10. A device according to claim 4, wherein said metal cup consists of a half-closed top cylinder extending through a perpendicular wall into an open second cylinder of larger diameter, said second cylinder extending through a perpendicular wall into a third cylinder of still larger diameter, and wherein said first lead member consists of a lead plate having an opening fitting over the outside of said top cylinder, and said second lead member consists of a disc-shaped plate fitting into the inside of said top cylinder, a portion of the wall of said top cylinder extending above said first lead plate being folded together to overlap radially a portion of said first lead plate and a portion of the wall of said top cylinder extending below said first lead plate being folded together to overlap radially said second lead plate, the lip of said third cylinder being sealed over the opening of said envelope.

11. In an electron discharge device, an envelope, a partitioning member forming part of the envelope and having a plane surface and a hollow, cup-shaped projection extending therefrom, a first conductor connected thereto having opposed plane surfaces, one lying against the plane surface of said partitioning member, and provided with an opening through which said cup-shaped projection extends, said cup-shaped projection having an outwardly radially deformed portion contacting the opposite plane surface of the conductor and holding this conductor against the plane surface of the partitioning member, a second conductor including a disc-like portion positioned with one surface lying against the inside of said cup-shaped projection, said parti tio-ning member having a further deformed portion extending radially inwardly about the opposite surface of said disc-like portion to hold the latter against the inside of the bottom of the cupshaped projection.

12. A connection according to claim 11, in which the plane surface of said partitioning member is formed with one or more protuberances about said cup-shaped projection, and. in which the first conductor is provided with openings aligned with said protuberances.

13. A connection according to claim 11, in combination with further means rigidly joining the inside of the bottom of said cup-shaped extension with the one surface of said disc-like portion.

14. An electrical through-connection for a partition comprising a member having a substantially plane surface and a hollow cup-shaped projection extending therefrom, a first conductor lying against the plane surface of said partitioning member and having an opening through which said cup-shaped projection extends, a radially deformed portion on said cup-shaped projection overlapping and holding said conductor against the plane surface of the partitioning member, a second conductor having a disk-like portion within said cup-shaped projection and a radially deformed portion on said cup-shaped member over-- lapping and holding said disk-like portion against the inside of the cup-shaped portion.

15. An electrical through-connection for a partition comprising a pair of conductors having edges in concentric relation, and a supporting and connecting element adapted to form part of the partition folded over the edge of one conductor and folded beneath the edge of the other whereby to support them in assembled conducting relation.

16. An electrical through-connection for a partition comprising a pair of conductors havin edges in concentric relation, and a supporting and connecting element adapted to form part of the partition having a flange over the edge of one conductor and having a flange beneath the edge of the other whereby to support them in assembled conducting relation.

17. An electrical through-connection for a partition comprising a pair of conductors having edges in concentric relation, and a supporting and connecting element adapted to form part of the partition having a flange over the edge of one conductor and having an oppositely directed flange beneath the edge of the other whereby to support them in assembled relation.

CHARLES V. LI'I'ION.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,673,425 Schwarz June 12, 1928 1,891,209 Smith Dec. 13, 1932 2,056,861 Maartens et al. Oct. 6, 1936 2,131,978 Schwarz Oct. 4, 1938 2,269,156 Kling Jan. 6, 1942 2,270,337 Pensak Jan. 20, 1942 2,323,148 McLaughlin June 29, 1943 2,366,459 Rosa Jan. 2, 1945 

